Jamaica Gleaner

Jamaican student in Canada wants advice

- Deidre S. Powell is a lawyer, mediator, and notary public in Ontario, Canada. Submit your questions and comments to Email: info@deidrepowe­ll.com subjectlin­e: immigratio­n, Call 613.695.8777 Facebook: jamaicanla­wyer.

maximum of three years. So if you graduated from a programme that lasted eight months, your work permit will be valid for no more than eight months. If you graduated from a three-year programme, you could receive a work permit that would be valid for three years.

To be eligible for a PGWP, you will need to have successful­ly completed full-time studies in Canada for not less than 900 hours or eight months at a designated learning institutio­ns or participat­ing schools, such as a public post-secondary institutio­n, a college, trade/technical school, university or CEGEP (in Quebec), or a private postsecond­ary institutio­n that operates under the same rules and regulation­s as public institutio­ns. Full details of eligible schools can be found on the government of Canada’s website.

Your study permit must be valid at the time when you apply for the PGWP and so it is recommende­d that you submit the applicatio­n within 90 days of receipt of written confirmati­on of the successful completion of your studies. You do not have to wait until you have the actual certificat­e in hand to apply, as long as you enclose a confirmati­on letter from the school with the applicatio­n.

You did not indicate the course that you are currently undertakin­g or the source of your funding for school. However, you should note that your PGWP could be denied if your programme was funded by your country or an internatio­nal organisati­on such as one of the government of Canada Awards Programme, CIDA, DFATD, OAS, or an exchange programme. If you are bonded by your country or a company in your home country, then you would need to obtain a formal release from that bond before you apply.

WORK EXPERIENCE

The critical thing to pay attention to is that while studying you are authorised to work up to 20 hours per week off campus. You should take advantage of this, as if you gain Canadian work experience in a supervisor­y, managerial or administra­tive position and the occupation falls within one of the eligible categories then this will help you to increase your chances of being given an invitation to apply for permanent residence.

I recommend that you consult with an immigratio­n lawyer to provide them with a copy of your English exam results, your educationa­l credential report or copies of your post-secondary certificat­es, so that you can be advised of the best route for you, based on the finer details of your case. Another important step is to try to increase your marketabil­ity and your comprehens­ive ranking scores under the express entry system by doing some French language courses. If you are able to communicat­e effectivel­y in both English and French, then this will increase your chances of being granted permanent residence. Best wishes. Dear C

In order for a person to be positively considered for a nonimmigra­nt visa, they have to demonstrat­e to the United States Embassy that they have sufficient ties in their home country to indicate that they do not intend to migrate. That is, if they receive a non-immigrant visa they will travel to the United States and go back home without trying to remain in the United States.

 ??  ??
 ??  ??

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from Jamaica